RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING

THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT OF 2001

(Republic Act No. 9160)


RULE 1
POLICY AND APPLICATION

Section 1. Title. - These Rules shall be known and cited as the "Rules and
Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9160" (the Anti-Money
Laundering Act of 2001 [AMLA]).
Sec. 2. Purpose. - These Rules are promulgated to prescribe the procedures
and guidelines for the implementation of the AMLA.
Sec. 3. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State that:
(a) The integrity and confidentiality of bank accounts shall be protected and
preserved;
(b) The Philippines shall not be used as a money laundering site for the
proceeds of any unlawful activity; and
(c) Consistent with its foreign policy, the Philippines shall extend cooperation
in transnational investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in money
laundering activities wherever committed.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. -
(a) "Covered institutions" refer to the following:
(1) Banks, offshore banking units, quasi-banks, trust entities, non-stock
savings and loan associations, pawnshops, and all other institutions
including their subsidiaries and affiliates supervised and/or regulated by the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
A subsidiary means an entity more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding voting stock of which is owned by a bank, quasi-bank, trust
entity or any other institution supervised or regulated by the BSP.
An affiliate means an entity at least twenty percent (20%) but not exceeding
fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of which is owned by a bank, quasi-
bank, trust entity, or any other institution supervised and/or regulated by the
BSP.
(2) Insurance companies, insurance agents, insurance brokers,
professional reinsurers, reinsurance brokers, holding companies, holding
company systems and all other persons and entities supervised and/or
regulated by the Insurance Commission (IC).
An insurance company includes those entities authorized to transact
insurance business in the Philippines, whether life or non-life and whether
domestic, domestically incorporated or branch of a foreign entity. A contract
of insurance is an agreement whereby one undertakes for a consideration
to indemnify another against loss, damage or liability arising from an
unknown or contingent event. Transacting insurance business includes
making or proposing to make, as insurer, any insurance contract, or as
surety, any contract of suretyship as a vocation and not as merely
incidental to any other legitimate business or activity of the surety, doing
any kind of business specifically recognized as constituting the doing of an
insurance business within the meaning of Presidential Decree (P. D.) No.
612, as amended, including a reinsurance business and doing or proposing
to do any business in substance equivalent to any of the foregoing in a
manner designed to evade the provisions of P. D. No. 612, as amended.
An insurance agent includes any person who solicits or obtains insurance
on behalf of any insurance company or transmits for a person other than
himself an application for a policy or contract of insurance to or from such
company or offers or assumes to act in the negotiation of such insurance.
An insurance broker includes any person who acts or aids in any manner in
soliciting, negotiating or procuring the making of any insurance contract or
in placing risk or taking out insurance, on behalf of an insured other than
himself.
A professional reinsurer includes any person, partnership, association or
corporation that transacts solely and exclusively reinsurance business in
the Philippines, whether domestic, domestically incorporated or a branch of
a foreign entity. A contract of reinsurance is one by which an insurer
procures a third person to insure him against loss or liability by reason of
such original insurance.
A reinsurance broker includes any person who, not being a duly authorized
agent, employee or officer of an insurer in which any reinsurance is
effected, acts or aids in any manner in negotiating contracts of reinsurance
or placing risks of effecting reinsurance, for any insurance company
authorized to do business in the Philippines.
A holding company includes any person who directly or indirectly controls
any authorized insurer.
A holding company system includes a holding company together with its
controlled insurers and controlled persons.
(3) (i) Securities dealers, brokers, salesmen, associated persons of brokers
or dealers, investment houses, investment agents and consultants, trading
advisors, and other entities managing securities or rendering similar
services, (ii) mutual funds or open-end investment companies, close-end
investment companies, common trust funds, pre-need companies or
issuers and other similar entities; (iii) foreign exchange corporations, money
changers, money payment, remittance, and transfer companies and other
similar entities, and (iv) other entities administering or otherwise dealing in
currency, commodities or financial derivatives based thereon, valuable
objects, cash substitutes and other similar monetary instruments or
property supervised and/or regulated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
A securities broker includes a person engaged in the business of buying
and selling securities for the account of others.
A securities dealer includes any person who buys and sells securities for
his/her account in the ordinary course of business.
A securities salesman includes a natural person, employed as such or as
an agent, by a dealer, issuer or broker to buy and sell securities.
An associated person of a broker or dealer includes an employee thereof
who directly exercises control of supervisory authority, but does not include
a salesman, or an agent or a person whose functions are solely clerical or
ministerial.
An investment house includes an enterprise which engages or purports to
engage, whether regularly or on an isolated basis, in the underwriting of
securities of another person or enterprise, including securities of the
Government and its instrumentalities.
A mutual fund or an open-end investment company includes an investment
company which is offering for sale or has outstanding, any redeemable
security of which it is the issuer.
A closed-end investment company includes an investment company other
than open-end investment company.
A common trust fund includes a fund maintained by an entity authorized to
perform trust functions under a written and formally established plan,
exclusively for the collective investment and reinvestment of certain money
representing participation in the plan received by it in its capacity as trustee,
for the purpose of administration, holding or management of such funds
and/or properties for the use, benefit or advantage of the trustor or of others
known as beneficiaries.
A pre-need company or issuer includes any corporation supervised and/or
regulated by the SEC and is authorized or licensed to sell or offer for sale
pre-need plans.
A foreign exchange corporation includes any enterprise which engages or
purports to engage, whether regularly or on an isolated basis, in the sale
and purchase of foreign currency notes and such other foreign-currency
denominated non-bank deposit transactions as may be authorized under its
articles of incorporation.
An investment agent or consultant or trading advisor includes any person
who is engaged in the business of advising others as to the value of any
security and the advisability of trading in any security or in the business of
issuing reports or making analysis of capital markets. However, in case the
issuance of reports or the rendering of the analysis of capital markets is
solely incidental to the conduct of the business or profession of banks, trust
companies, journalists, reporters, columnists, editors, lawyers, accountants,
teachers, and publishers of newspapers and business or financial
publications of general and regular circulation, including their employees,
they shall not be deemed to be investment agents or consultants or trade
advisors within the contemplation of the AMLA and these Rules.
A money changer includes any person in the business of buying or selling
foreign currency notes.
A money payment, remittance and transfer company includes any person
offering to pay, remit or transfer or transmit money on behalf of any person
to another person.

(b) "Customer" refers to any person or entity that keeps an account, or
otherwise transacts business, with a covered institution and any person or
entity on whose behalf an account is maintained or a transaction is
conducted, as well as the beneficiary of said transactions. A customer also
includes the beneficiary of a trust, an investment fund, a pension fund or a
company or person whose assets are managed by an asset manager, or a
grantor of a trust. It includes any insurance policy holder, whether actual or
prospective.

(c) "Monetary Instrument" refers to:
(1) Coins or currency of legal tender of the Philippines, or of any other
country;
(2) Drafts, checks and notes;
(3) Securities or negotiable instruments, bonds, commercial papers, deposit
certificates, trust certificates, custodial receipts or deposit substitute
instruments, trading orders, transaction tickets and confirmations of sale or
investments and money market instruments;
(4) Other similar instruments where title thereto passes to another by
endorsement, assignment or delivery; and
(5) Contracts or policies of insurance, life or non-life, and contracts of
suretyship.

(d) "Offender" refers to any person who commits a money laundering
offense.

(e) "Person" refers to any natural or juridical person.

(f) "Proceeds" refers to an amount derived or realized from an unlawful
activity. It includes:
(1) All material results, profits, effects and any amount realized from any
unlawful activity;
(2) All monetary, financial or economic means, devices, documents, papers
or things used in or having any relation to any unlawful activity; and
(3) All moneys, expenditures, payments, disbursements, costs, outlays,
charges, accounts, refunds and other similar items for the financing,
operations, and maintenance of any unlawful activity.

(g) "Property" includes any thing or item of value, real or personal, tangible
or intangible, or any interest therein or any benefit, privilege, claim or right
with respect thereto.

(h) "Supervising Authority" refers to the BSP, the SEC and the IC. Where
the SEC supervision applies only to the incorporation of the registered
institution, within the limits of the AMLA, the SEC shall have the authority to
require and ask assistance from the government agency having regulatory
power and/or licensing authority over said covered institution for the
implementation and enforcement of the AMLA and these Rules.

(i) "Transaction" refers to any act establishing any right or obligation or
giving rise to any contractual or legal relationship between the parties
thereto. It also includes any movement of funds by any means with a
covered institution.
Sec. 5. Limitations of the Rules. -
(a) The provisions of the AMLA and these Rules shall not apply to deposits,
investments, and all other accounts of customers with covered institutions
that were opened or created prior to the effectivity of the AMLA on October
17, 2001. Hence, no covered transaction reports, investigation and
prosecution of money laundering cases, or any other action authorized
under the AMLA, may be undertaken with respect to such deposits,
investments and accounts as well as transactions or circumstances in
relation thereto, that have been completed prior to October 17, 2001.
However, the AMLA and these Rules shall apply to all movements of funds
respecting such deposits, investments and accounts as well as transactions
or circumstances in relation thereto, that are initiated or commenced on or
after October 17, 2001.
(b) The AMLA and these Rules shall not be used for political persecution or
harassment or as an instrument to hamper competition in trade and
commerce.

RULE 2
COMPOSITION AND PROCEEDINGS OF
THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL


Section 1. Composition. The members of the Anti-Money Laundering
Council (AMLC) created under the AMLA shall be the Governor of the BSP,
the Insurance Commissioner and the Chairman of the SEC. The Governor of
the BSP shall be the Chairman.
Sec. 2. Collegiality. The AMLC is a collegial body where the Chairman and
the members of the AMLC are entitled to one (1) vote each.
Sec. 3. Unanimous Decision. The AMLC shall act unanimously in
discharging its functions as defined in the AMLA and in these Rules. However,
in the case of the incapacity, absence or disability of any member to discharge
his functions, the officer duly designated or authorized to discharge the
functions of the Governor of the BSP, the Chairman of the SEC or the
Insurance Commissioner, as the case may be, shall act in his stead in the
AMLC.
Sec. 4. Delegation of Authority. Action on routinary administrative matters
may be delegated to any member of the AMLC or to any ranking official of the
Secretariat under such guidelines as the AMLC may determine.
Sec. 5. Secretariat.
(a) The Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be
appointed by the AMLC for a term of five (5) years. He must be a member of
the Philippine Bar, at least thirty-five (35) years of age and of good moral
character, unquestionable integrity and known probity. He shall be considered
a regular employee of the BSP with the rank of Assistant Governor, and shall
be entitled to such benefits and subject to such rules and regulations as are
applicable to officers of similar rank.
(b) Other than the Executive Director whose qualifications are provided for in
the preceding paragraph, in organizing the Secretariat, the AMLC may only
choose from among those who have served, continuously or cumulatively, for
at least five (5) years in the BSP, the SEC or the IC, but who need not be
incumbents therein at the time of their appointment in the Secretariat. All
members of the Secretariat shall be considered regular employees of the BSP
and shall be entitled to such benefits and subject to such rules and regulations
as are applicable to BSP employees of similar rank.
Sec. 6. Detail and Secondment of Personnel. The AMLC is authorized under
Section 7 (10) of the AMLA to enlist the assistance of the BSP, the SEC or the
IC or any other branch, department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality
of the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations,
in undertaking any and all anti-money laundering operations. This includes the
use of any member of their personnel who may be detailed or seconded to the
AMLC, subject to existing laws and Civil Service Rules and Regulations.
Sec. 7. Confidentiality of Proceedings. The members of the AMLC, the
Executive Director, and all the members of the Secretariat, whether
permanent, on detail or on secondment, shall not reveal in any manner except
under orders of the court, the Congress or any government office or agency
authorized by law, or under such conditions as may be prescribed by the
AMLC, any information known to them by reason of their office. In case of
violation of this provision, the person shall be punished in accordance with the
pertinent provisions of R. A. Nos. 3019, 6713 and 7653.
Sec. 8. Meetings. The AMLC shall meet every first Monday of the month or
as often as may be necessary at the call of the Chairman. Subject to the rule
on confidentiality in the immediately preceding section, the meetings of the
AMLC may be conducted through modern technologies such as, but not
limited to, teleconferencing and video-conferencing.
Sec. 9. Budget. The budget appropriated by the Congress shall be used to
defray operational expenses of the AMLC, including indemnification for legal
costs and expenses reasonably incurred for the services of external counsel
or in connection with any civil, criminal or administrative action, suit or
proceedings to which members of the AMLC and the Executive Director and
other members of the Secretariat may be made a party by reason of the
performance of their functions or duties.

RULE 3
POWERS OF THE AMLC


Section 1. Authority to Initiate Investigations on the Basis of Voluntary
Citizens Complaints and Government Agency Referrals. -
(a) Any person, including covered institutions not subject to any account
secrecy laws and branches, departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and
instrumentalities of the government, including government-owned and
controlled corporations, may report to the AMLC any activity that engenders
reasonable belief that any money laundering offense under Section 4 of the
AMLA and defined under Rule 4 of these Rules is about to be, is being or has
been committed.
(b) The person so reporting shall file a Voluntary Citizens Complaint (VCC) or
Government Referral (GR) in the form prescribed by the AMLC. The VCC and
GR forms shall indicate that the members of the AMLC, the Executive Director
and all the members of the Secretariat are bound by the confidentiality rule
provided in Section 7, Rule 2 of these Rules. The VCC shall be signed by the
complainant. The GR shall be signed by the authorized representative of the
government agency concerned, indicating his current position and rank
therein.
(c) Any person who files a VCC or GR shall not incur any liability for all their
acts in relation thereto that were done in good faith. However, any person
who, with malice, or in bad faith, reports or files a completely unwarranted
or false information relative to any money laundering transaction against
any person shall be subject to the penalties provided for under Section 14
(c) of the AMLA.
(d) On the basis of the VCC or GR, the AMLC may initiate investigation
thereof, and based on the evidence gathered, the AMLC may cause the
filing of criminal complaints with the Department of Justice or the
Ombudsman for the prosecution of money laundering offenses.
Sec. 2. Authority to Initiate Investigations on the Basis of Covered Transaction
Reports. -
(a) Covered Transactions. The mandatory duty and obligation of covered
institutions to make reports to the AMLC covers the following transactions:
(1) A single transaction involving an amount in excess of Four million
Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00) or an equivalent amount in foreign
currency based on the prevailing exchange rate where the client is not
properly identified and/or the amount is not commensurate with his business
or financial capacity.
(2) A single transaction involving an amount in excess of Four million
Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00) or an equivalent amount in foreign
currency based on the prevailing exchange rate which has no underlying legal
or trade obligation, purpose, origin, or economic justification.
(3) A series or combination of transactions conducted within five (5)
consecutive banking days aggregating to a total amount in excess of Four
million Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00) or an equivalent in foreign
currency based on the prevailing exchange rate where the client is not
properly identified and/or the amount is not commensurate with his business
or financial capacity.
(4) A series or combination of transactions conducted within five (5)
consecutive banking days aggregating to a total amount in excess of Four
million Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00) or an equivalent in foreign
currency based on the prevailing exchange rate exchange rate where most, if
not all the transactions, do not have any underlying legal or trade obligation,
purpose, origin, or economic justification.
(5) A single unusually large and complex transaction in excess of Four million
Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00), especially a cash deposit or investment
having no credible purpose or origin, underlying trade obligation or contract,
regardless of whether or not the client is properly identified and/or the amount
is commensurate with his business or financial capacity.
(6) A series, combination or pattern of unusually large and complex
transactions aggregating to, without reference to any period, a total amount in
excess of Four million Philippine pesos (Php4,000,000.00), especially cash
deposits and/or investments having no credible purpose or origin, underlying
trade obligation or contract, regardless of whether or not the client is properly
identified and/or the amount is commensurate with his business or financial
capacity.
(b) Obligation to Report Covered Transactions. All covered institutions
supervised or regulated by the BSP, the SEC and the IC shall report all
covered transactions to the AMLC within five (5) working days from the date of
the transaction or from the date when the covered institution concerned
gained/acquired information/knowledge that the transaction is a covered
transaction.
(c) Covered Transaction Report Form. The Covered Transaction Report
(CTR) shall be in the form prescribed by the appropriate Supervising Authority
and approved by the AMLC. It shall be signed by the employee(s) who dealt
directly with the customer in the transaction and/or who made the initial
internal report within the covered institution, the compliance officer or his
equivalent, and a senior official of the bank with a rank not lower than senior
vice-president. The CTR shall be filed with the AMLC in a central location, to
be determined by the AMLC, as indicated in the instructions on the CTR form.
(d) Exemption from Bank Secrecy Laws. When reporting covered transactions
to the AMLC, banks and their officers, employees, representatives, agents,
advisors, consultants or associates shall not be deemed to have violated R. A.
No. 1405, as amended, R. A. No. 6426, as amended, R. A. No. 8791 and
other similar laws.
(e) Safe Harbor Provision. No administrative, criminal or civil proceedings
shall lie against any person for having made a covered transaction report in
the regular performance of his duties and in good faith, whether or not such
reporting results in any criminal prosecution under the AMLA or any other
Philippine law.
(f) Filing of Criminal Complaints. On the basis of the CTR, the AMLC may
initiate investigation thereof, and based on the evidence gathered, the AMLC
may cause the filing of criminal complaints with the Department of Justice or
the Ombudsman for the prosecution of money laundering offenses.
(g) Malicious Reporting. Any person who, with malice, or in bad faith, reports
or files a completely unwarranted or false information relative to any money
laundering transaction against any person, shall be subject to a penalty of
imprisonment from six (6) months to four (4) years and a fine of not less than
One hundred thousand Philippine pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than
Five hundred thousand Philippine pesos (Php500,000.00), at the discretion of
the court: Provided, That the offender is not entitled to avail of the benefits
under the Probation Law.
If the offender is a corporation, association, partnership or any juridical
person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the responsible officers, as the
case may be, who participated or failed to prevent its commission. If the
offender is a juridical person, the court may suspend or revoke its license. If
the offender is an alien, he shall, in addition to the penalties herein prescribed,
be deported without further proceedings after serving the penalties herein
prescribed. If the offender is a public official or employee, he shall, in addition
to the penalties prescribed herein, suffer perpetual or temporary absolute
disqualification from office, as the case may be.
(h) Breach of Confidentiality. When reporting covered transactions to the
AMLC, covered institutions and their officers, employees, representatives,
agents, advisors, consultants or associates are prohibited from
communicating, directly or indirectly, in any manner or by any means, to any
person, entity, or the media, the fact that a covered transaction report was
made, the contents thereof, or any other information in relation thereto.
Neither may such reporting be published or aired in any manner or form by
the mass media, electronic mail, or other similar devices. Violation of this
provision shall constitute the offense of breach of confidentiality punished
under Section 14 (d) of the AMLA with imprisonment from three (3) to eight (8)
years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand Philippine pesos
(Php500,000.00) but not more than One million Philippine pesos
(Php1,000,000.00).
(i) File of Covered Transactions. Covered institutions shall maintain a
complete file on all covered transactions that have been reported to the
AMLC. Covered institutions shall undertake the necessary adequate security
measures to ensure the confidentiality of such file. The file of covered
transactions shall be kept for at least five (5) years: Provided, That if money
laundering cases based thereon have been filed in court, the file must be
retained beyond the five(5)-year period until it is confirmed that the case has
been finally resolved or terminated by the court.
Sec. 3. Authority to Freeze Accounts.
(a) The AMLC is authorized under Sections 6 (6) and 10 of the AMLA to
freeze any account or any monetary instrument or property subject thereof
upon determination that probable cause exists that the same is in any way
related to any unlawful activity and/or money laundering offense. The AMLC
may freeze any account or any monetary instrument or property subject
thereof prior to the institution or in the course of, the criminal proceedings
involving the unlawful activity and/or money laundering offense to which said
account, monetary instrument or property is any way related. For purposes of
Section 10 of the AMLA and Section 3, Rule 3 of these Rules, probable cause
includes such facts and circumstances which would lead a reasonably
discreet, prudent or cautious man to believe that an unlawful activity and/or a
money laundering offense is about to be, is being or has been committed and
that the account or any monetary instrument or property subject thereof
sought to be frozen is in any way related to said unlawful activity and/or
money laundering offense.
(b) The freeze order on such account shall be effective immediately for a
period not exceeding fifteen (15) days.
(c) The AMLC must serve notice of the freeze order upon the covered
institution concerned and the owner or holder of the deposit, investment or
similar account, simultaneously with the issuance thereof. Upon receipt of the
notice of the freeze order, the covered institution concerned shall immediately
stop, freeze, block, suspend or otherwise place under its absolute control the
account and the monetary instrument or property subject thereof.
(d) The owner or holder of the account so notified shall have a non-extendible
period of seventy-two (72) hours upon receipt of the notice to file a verified
explanation with the AMLC why the freeze order should be lifted. Failure of
the owner or holder of the account to file such verified explanation shall be
deemed waiver of his right to question the freeze order.
(e) The AMLC shall have seventy-two (72) hours from receipt of the written
explanation of the owner or holder of the frozen account to resolve the same.
If the AMLC fails to act within said period, the freeze order shall automatically
be dissolved. However, the covered institution shall not lift the freeze order
without securing official confirmation from the AMLC.
(f) Before the fifteen (15)-day period expires, the AMLC may apply in court for
an extension of said period. Upon the timely filing of such application and
pending the decision of the court to extend the period, said period shall be
suspended and the freeze order shall remain effective.
(g) In case the court denies the application for extension, the freeze order
shall remain effective only for the balance of the fifteen (15)-day period.
(h) No court shall issue a temporary restraining order or writ of injunction
against any freeze order issued by the AMLC or any court order extending
period of effectivity of the freeze order except the Court of Appeals or the
Supreme Court.
(i) No assets shall be frozen to the prejudice of a candidate for an electoral
office during an election period.
Sec. 4. Authority to Inquire into Accounts.
(a) The AMLC is authorized under Section 7 (2) of the AMLA to issue orders
addressed to the appropriate Supervising Authority or any covered institution
to determine and reveal the true identity of the owner of any monetary
instrument or property subject of a covered transaction report, or a request for
assistance from a foreign State, or believed by the AMLC, on the basis of
substantial evidence, to be, in whole or in part, wherever located,
representing, involving, or related to, directly or indirectly, in any manner or by
any means, the proceeds of an unlawful activity. For purposes of the AMLA
and these Rules, substantial evidence includes such relevant evidence as a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.
(b) In case of any violation of the AMLA involving bank deposits and
investments, the AMLC may inquire into or examine any particular deposit or
investment with any banking institution or non-bank financial institution upon
order of any competent court when the AMLC has established that there is
probable cause that the deposits or investments involved are in any way
related to any unlawful activity and/or money laundering offense. The AMLC
may file the application for authority to inquire into or examine any particular
bank deposit or investment in court, prior to the institution or in the course of,
the criminal proceedings involving the unlawful activity and/or money
laundering offense to which said bank deposit or investment is any way
related. For purposes of Section 11 of the AMLA and Section 4, Rule 3 of
these Rules, probable cause includes such facts and circumstances which
would lead a reasonably discreet, prudent or cautious man to believe that an
unlawful activity and/or a money laundering offense is about to be, is being or
has been committed and that the bank deposit or investment sought to be
inquired into or examined is in any way related to said unlawful activity and/or
money laundering offense.
Sec. 5. Authority to Institute Civil Forfeiture Proceedings. The AMLC is
authorized under Section 7 (3) of the AMLA to institute civil forfeiture
proceedings and all other remedial proceedings through the Office of the
Solicitor General.
Sec. 6. Authority to Assist the United Nations and other International
Organizations and Foreign States. The AMLC is authorized under Sections
7 (8) and 13 (b) and (d) of the AMLA to receive and take action in respect of
any request of foreign states for assistance in their own anti-money laundering
operations. It is also authorized under Section 7 (7) of the AMLA to cooperate
with the National Government and/or take appropriate action in respect of
conventions, resolutions and other directives of the United Nations (UN), the
UN Security Council, and other international organizations of which the
Philippines is a member. However, the AMLC may refuse to comply with any
such request, convention, resolution or directive where the action sought
therein contravenes the provision of the Constitution or the execution thereof
is likely to prejudice the national interest of the Philippines.

Sec. 7. Authority to Develop and Implement Educational Programs. The
AMLC is authorized under Section 7 (9) of the AMLA to develop educational
programs on the pernicious effects of money laundering, the methods and
techniques used in money laundering, the viable means of preventing money
laundering and the effective ways of prosecuting and punishing offenders. The
AMLC shall conduct nationwide information campaigns to heighten awareness
of the public of their civic duty as citizens to report any and all activities which
engender reasonable belief that a money laundering offense under Section 4
of the AMLA is about to be, is being or has been committed.
Sec. 8. Authority to Issue, Clarify and Amend the Rules and Regulations
Implementing R. A. No. 9160. The AMLC is authorized under Sections 7 (7),
18 and 19 of the AMLA to promulgate as well as clarify and/or amend, as may
be necessary, these Rules. The AMLC may make appropriate issuances for
this purpose.

Sec. 9. Authority to Establish Information Sharing System. Subject to such
limitations as provided for by law, the AMLC is authorized under Section 7 (7)
of the AMLA to establish an information sharing system that will enable the
AMLC to store, track and analyze money laundering transactions for the
resolute prevention, detection and investigation of money laundering offenses.
For this purpose, the AMLC shall install a computerized system that will be
used in the creation and maintenance of an information database. The AMLC
is also authorized, under Section 7 (9) of the AMLA to enter into memoranda
of agreement with the intelligence units of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Finance, the
Department of Justice, as well as their attached agencies, and other domestic
or transnational governmental or non-governmental organizations or groups
for sharing of all information that may, in any way, facilitate the resolute
prevention, investigation and prosecution of money laundering offenses and
other violations of the AMLA.

Sec. 10. Authority to Establish System of Incentives and Rewards. The
AMLC is authorized under Section 15 of the AMLA to establish a system of
special incentives and rewards to be given to the appropriate government
agency and its personnel that led and initiated the investigation, prosecution,
and conviction of persons involved in money laundering offenses under
Section 4 of the AMLA. Any monetary reward shall be made payable out of
the funds appropriated by Congress.

Sec. 11. Other Inherent, Necessary, Implied or Incidental Powers. The
AMLC shall perform such other functions and exercise such other powers as
may be inherent, necessary, implied or incidental to the functions assigned,
and powers granted, to it under the AMLA for the purpose of carrying out the
declared policy of the AMLA.

RULE 4
MONEY LAUNDERING OFFENSES


Section 1. Money Laundering Offenses and their Corresponding Penalties.
Money laundering is a crime whereby the proceeds of an unlawful activity are
transacted, thereby making them appear to have originated from legitimate
sources. It is a process comprising of three (3) stages, namely, placement or
the physical disposal of the criminal proceeds, layering or the separation of
the criminal proceeds from their source by creating layers of financial
transactions to disguise the audit trail, and integration or the provision of
apparent legitimacy to the criminal proceeds. Any transaction involving such
criminal proceeds or attempt to transact the same during the placement,
layering or integration stage shall constitute the crime of money laundering.
(a) When it is committed by a person who, knowing that any monetary
instrument or property represents, involves, or relates to, the proceeds of any
unlawful activity, transacts or attempts to transact said monetary instrument or
property, the penalty is imprisonment from seven (7) to fourteen (14) years
and a fine of not less than Three million Philippine pesos (Php3,000,000.00)
but not more than twice the value of the monetary instrument or property
involved in the offense.
(b) When it is committed by a person who, knowing that any monetary
instrument or property involves the proceeds of any unlawful activity, performs
or fails to perform any act, as a result of which he facilitates the offense of
money laundering referred to in paragraph (a) above, the penalty is
imprisonment from four (4) to seven (7) years and a fine of not less than One
million five hundred thousand Philippine pesos (Php1,500,000.00) but not
more than Three million Philippine pesos (Php3,000,000.00).
(c) When it is committed by a person who, knowing that any monetary
instrument or property is required under this Act to be disclosed and filed with
the AMLC, fails to do so, the penalty is imprisonment from six (6) months to
four (4) years or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand Philippine
pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand Philippine
pesos (Php500,000.00), or both.
Sec. 2. Unlawful Activities. - These refer to any act or omission or series or
combination thereof involving or having relation to the following:
(a) Kidnapping for ransom under Article of Act No. 3815, the Revised Penal
Code, as amended;
(b) Robbery and extortion under Articles 294, 295, 296, 299, 300, 301 and
302 of the same Code;
(c) Qualified theft under Article 310 of the same Code;
(d) Swindling under Article 315 of the same Code;
(e) Piracy on the high seas under the same Code and Presidential Decree
(P.D.) No. 532;
(f) Destructive arson and murder as defined under the same Code and
hijacking and other violations under Republic Act (R. A.) No. 6235, including
those perpetrated by terrorists against non-combatant persons and similar
targets;
(g) Jueteng and Masiao punished as illegal gambling under P.D. No. 1602;
(h) Smuggling under R. A. Nos. 455 and 1937;
(i) Section 3, paragraphs B, C, E, G, H and I of R. A. No. 3019, the Anti-Graft
and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended;
(j) Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Article Two of R. A. No. 6425, the
Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 as amended;
(k) Plunder under R. A. No. 7080, as amended;
(l) Violations under R. A. No. 8792, the Electronic Commerce ct of 2000;
(m) Fraudulent practices and other violations under R. A. No. 8799, the
Securities Regulation Code of 2000; and
(n) Felonies or offenses of a similar nature that are punishable under the
penal laws of other countries.
Sec. 3. Jurisdiction of Money Laundering Cases. The Regional Trial Courts
shall have the jurisdiction to try all cases on money laundering. Those
committed by public officers and private persons who are in conspiracy with
such public officers shall be under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.
Sec. 4. Prosecution of Money Laundering.
(a) Any person may be charged with and convicted of both the offense of
money laundering and the unlawful activity as defined under Section 3 (i) of
the AMLA.
(b) Any proceeding relating to the unlawful activity shall be given precedence
over the prosecution of any offense or violation under the AMLA without
prejudice to the issuance by the AMLC of a freeze order with respect to the
deposit, investment or similar account involved therein and resort to other
remedies provided under the AMLA.
(c) Knowledge of the offender that any monetary instrument or property
represents, involves, or relates to the proceeds of an unlawful activity or that
any monetary instrument or property is required under the AMLA to be
disclosed and filed with the AMLC, may be established by direct evidence or
inferred from the attendant circumstances.
(d) All the elements of every money laundering offense under Section 4 of the
AMLA must be proved by evidence beyond reasonable doubt, including the
element of knowledge that the monetary instrument or property represents,
involves or relates to the proceeds of any unlawful activity. No element of the
unlawful activity, however, including the identity of the perpetrators and the
details of the actual commission of the unlawful activity need be established
by proof beyond reasonable doubt. The elements of the offense of money
laundering are separate and distinct from the elements of the felony or offense
constituting the unlawful activity.
(e) No case for money laundering may be filed to the prejudice of a candidate
for an electoral office during an election period. However, this prohibition shall
not constitute a bar to the prosecution of any money laundering case filed in
court before the election period.
(f) The AMLC may apply, in the course of the criminal proceedings, for
provisional remedies to prevent the monetary instrument or property subject
thereof from being removed, concealed, converted, commingled with other
property or otherwise to prevent its being found or taken by the applicant or
otherwise placed or taken beyond the jurisdiction of the court. However, no
assets shall be attached to the prejudice of a candidate for an electoral office
during an election period.
(g) Where there is conviction for money laundering under Section 4 of the
AMLA, the court shall issue a judgment of forfeiture in favor of the
Government of the Philippines with respect to the monetary instrument or
property found to be proceeds of one or more unlawful activities. However, no
assets shall be forfeited to the prejudice of a candidate for an electoral office
during an election period.
(h) Restitution for any aggrieved party shall be governed by the provisions of
the New Civil Code.

RULE 5
PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING


Section 1. Customer Identification Requirements.
(a) True Identity of Individuals as Clients. Covered institutions shall establish
appropriate systems and methods based on internationally compliant
standards and adequate internal controls for verifying and recording the true
and full identity of their customers.
For this purpose, they shall develop clear customer acceptance policies and
procedures when conducting business relations or specific transactions, such
as, but not limited to, opening of deposit accounts, accepting deposit
substitutes, entering into trust and other fiduciary transactions, renting of
safety deposit boxes, performing remittances and other large cash
transactions.
When dealing with customers who are acting as trustee, nominee, agent or in
any capacity for and on behalf of another, covered institutions shall verify and
record the true and full identity of the person(s) on whose behalf a transaction
is being conducted. Covered institutions shall also establish and record the
true and full identity of such trustees, nominees, agents and other persons
and the nature of their capacity and duties. In case a covered institution has
doubts as to whether such persons are being used as dummies in
circumvention of existing laws, it shall immediately make the necessary
inquiries to verify the status of the business relationship between the parties.
(b) Minimum Information/Documents required for Individual Customers.
Covered institutions shall require customers to produce original documents of
identity issued by an official authority, preferably bearing a photograph of the
customer. Examples of such documents are identity cards and passports.
Where practicable, file copies of documents of identity are to be kept.
Alternatively, the identity card or passport number and/or other relevant
details are to be recorded. The following minimum information/documents
shall be obtained from individual customers:

(1) Name;
(2) Present address;
(3) Permanent address;
(4) Date and place of birth;
(5) Nationality;
(6) Nature of work and name of employer or nature of self-
employment/business;
(7) Contact numbers;
(8) Tax identification number, Social Security System number or Government
Service and Insurance System number;
(9) Specimen signature;
(10) Source of fund(s); and
(11) Names of beneficiaries in case of insurance contracts and whenever
applicable.
(c) Minimum Information/Documents Required for Corporate and Juridical
Entities. Before establishing business relationships, covered institutions shall
endeavor to ensure that the customer that is a corporate or juridical entity has
not been or is not in the process of being, dissolved, wound up or voided, or
that its business or operations has not been or is not in the process of being,
closed, shut down, phased out, or terminated. Dealings with shell companies
and corporations, being legal entities which have no business substance in
their own right but through which financial transactions may be conducted,
should be undertaken with extreme caution. The following minimum
information/documents shall be obtained from customers that are corporate or
juridical entities, including shell companies and corporations:

(1) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership;
(2) By-laws;
(3) Official address or principal business address;
(4) List of directors/partners;
(5) List of principal stockholders owning at least two percent (2%) of the
capital stock;
(6) Contact numbers;
(7) Beneficial owners, if any; and
(8) Verification of the authority and identification of the person purporting to
act on behalf of the client.

(d) Verification without Face-to-Face Contact. To the extent and through
such means allowed under existing laws and applicable rules and regulations
of the BSP, the SEC and the IC, covered institutions may create new
accounts without face-to-face contact. However, such new accounts shall not
be valid and effective unless the customer complies with the requirements
under the two (2) immediately preceding subsections and such other
requirements that have been or will be imposed by the BSP, the SEC and the
IC, as the case may be, pursuant to Rule 5 of these Rules and/or their
respective charters, within ten (10) days from the creation of the new
accounts. Unless such requirements have been fully complied with, no
transaction shall be honored by any covered institution respecting an account
created without face-to-face contact.
(e) Acquisition of Another Covered Institution. When a covered institution
acquires the business of another covered institution, either in whole or as a
product portfolio, it is not necessary for the identity of all existing customers to
be re-established: Provided, That all customer account records are acquired
with the business and due diligence inquiries do not raise any doubt as to
whether or not the acquired business has fully complied with all the
requirements under the AMLA and these Rules.
(f) Risk-monitoring and Review. Covered institutions shall adopt programs for
on-going monitoring of high-risk accounts and risk management, subject to
such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the appropriate
Supervising Authority. Regular reviews of customer base should be
undertaken to ensure that the nature of accounts and potential risks are
properly identified, monitored and controlled.
(g) Prohibition against Certain Accounts. Covered institutions shall maintain
accounts only in the true name of the account owner or holder. The provisions
of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, anonymous accounts,
accounts under fictitious names, incorrect name accounts and all other similar
accounts shall be absolutely prohibited.
(h) Numbered Accounts. Peso and foreign currency non-checking numbered
accounts shall be allowed: Provided, That the true identity of the customer is
satisfactorily established based on official and other reliable documents and
records, and that the information and documents required under Section 1 (b)
and (c) of Rule 5 of these Rules are obtained and recorded by the covered
institution. The BSP may conduct annual testing for the purpose of
determining the existence and true identity of the owners of such accounts.
Sec. 2. Recordkeeping Requirements. Covered transactions shall prepare
and maintain documentation on their customer accounts, relationships and
transactions such that any account, relationship or transaction can be so
reconstructed as to enable the AMLC, the law enforcement and prosecutorial
authorities, and/or the courts to establish an audit trail for money laundering.
(a) Existing and New Accounts and New Transactions. All records of existing
and new accounts and of new transactions shall be maintained and safely
stored for five (5) years from October 17, 2001 or from the dates of the
accounts or transactions, whichever is later.
(b) Closed Accounts. With respect to closed accounts, the records on
customer identification, account files and business correspondence shall be
preserved and safely stored for at least five (5) years from the dates when
they were closed.
(c) Retention of Records in Case a Money Laundering Case Has Been Filed
in Court. If a money laundering case based on any record kept by the
covered institution concerned has been filed in court, said file must be
retained beyond the period stipulated in the two (2) immediately preceding
subsections, as the case may be, until it is confirmed that the case has been
finally resolved or terminated by the court.
(d) Form of Records. Records shall be retained as originals or certified true
copies on paper, microfilm or electronic form: Provided, That such forms are
admissible in court pursuant to existing laws and the applicable rules
promulgated by the Supreme Court.
(e) Penalties for Failure to Keep Records. The penalty of imprisonment from
six (6) months to one (1) year or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand
Philippine pesos (Php100,000.00) but not more than Five hundred thousand
Philippine pesos (Php500,000.00), or both, shall be imposed on a person
convicted for a violation of Section 9 (b) of the AMLA.
Sec. 3. Money Laundering Prevention Programs. Covered institutions shall
formulate their respective money laundering prevention programs in
accordance with Section 9 and other pertinent provisions of the AMLA and
Sections 1 and 2 of Rules 3 and 4 and other pertinent provisions of these
Rules, subject to such guidelines as may be prescribed by the Supervising
Authority and approved by the AMLC. Every covered institution shall submit
its own money laundering program to the Supervising Authority concerned
within a non-extendible period of sixty (60) days from the date of effectivity of
these Rules.
Every money laundering program shall establish detailed procedures
implementing a comprehensive, institution-wide "know-your-client" policy, set-
up an effective dissemination of information on money laundering activities
and their prevention, detection and reporting, adopt internal policies,
procedures and controls, designate compliance officers at management level,
institute adequate screening and recruitment procedures, and set-up an audit
function to test the system.
Covered institutions shall adopt, as part of their money laundering programs,
a system of flagging and monitoring transactions that qualify as covered
transactions except that they involve amounts below the threshold to facilitate
the process of aggregating them for purposes of future reporting of such
transactions to the AMLC when their aggregated amounts breach the
threshold. Covered institutions not subject to account secrecy laws shall
incorporate in their money laundering programs the provisions of Section 1,
Rule 3 of these Rules and such other guidelines for the voluntary reporting to
the AMLC of all transactions that engender the reasonable belief that a money
laundering offense is about to be, is being, or has been committed.
Sec. 4. Training of Personnel. Covered institutions shall provide all their
responsible officers and personnel with efficient and effective training and
continuing education programs to enable them to fully comply with all their
obligations under the AMLA and these Rules.

RULE 6
FORFEITURE


Section 1. Civil Forfeiture. - When there is a covered transaction report made,
and the court has, in a petition filed for the purpose ordered seizure of any
monetary instrument or property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
related to said report, the Revised Rules of Court on civil forfeiture shall apply.
However, no assets shall be forfeited to the prejudice of a candidate for an
electoral office during an election period.
Sec. 2. Claim on Forfeited Assets. - Where the court has issued an order of
forfeiture of the monetary instrument or property in a criminal prosecution for
any money laundering offense under Section 4 of the AMLA, the offender or
any other person claiming an interest therein may apply, by verified petition,
for a declaration that the same legitimately belongs to him and for segregation
or exclusion of the monetary instrument or property corresponding thereto.
The verified petition shall be filed with the court which rendered the judgment
of conviction and order of forfeiture, within fifteen (15) days from the date of
the order of forfeiture, in default of which the said order shall become final and
executory. This provision shall apply in both civil and criminal forfeiture.
Sec. 3. Payment in lieu of Forfeiture. - Where the court has issued an order of
forfeiture of the monetary instrument or property subject of a money
laundering offense under Section 4 of the AMLA, and said order cannot be
enforced because any particular monetary instrument or property cannot, with
due diligence, be located, or it has been substantially altered, destroyed,
diminished in value or otherwise rendered worthless by any act or omission,
directly or indirectly, attributable to the offender, or it has been concealed,
removed, converted or otherwise transferred to prevent the same from being
found or to avoid forfeiture thereof, or it is located outside the Philippines or
has been placed or brought outside the jurisdiction of the court, or it has been
commingled with other monetary instruments or property belonging to either
the offender himself or a third person or entity, thereby rendering the same
difficult to identify or be segregated for purposes of forfeiture, the court may,
instead of enforcing the order of forfeiture of the monetary instrument or
property or part thereof or interest therein, accordingly order the convicted
offender to pay an amount equal to the value of said monetary instrument or
property. This provision shall apply in both civil and criminal forfeiture.

RULE 7
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AMONG STATES


Section 1. Request for Assistance from a Foreign State. - Where a foreign
state makes a request for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of a
money laundering offense, the AMLC may execute the request or refuse to
execute the same and inform the foreign state of any valid reason for not
executing the request or for delaying the execution thereof. The principles of
mutuality and reciprocity shall, for this purpose, be at all times recognized.
Sec. 2. Powers of the AMLC to Act on a Request for Assistance from a
Foreign State. - The AMLC may execute a request for assistance from a
foreign state by: (a) tracking down, freezing, restraining and seizing assets
alleged to be proceeds of any unlawful activity under the procedures laid
down in the AMLA and in these Rules; (b) giving information needed by the
foreign state within the procedures laid down in the AMLA and in these Rules;
and (c) applying for an order of forfeiture of any monetary instrument or
property in the court: Provided, That the court shall not issue such an order
unless the application is accompanied by an authenticated copy of the order
of a court in the requesting state ordering the forfeiture of said monetary
instrument or property of a person who has been convicted of a money
laundering offense in the requesting state, and a certification or an affidavit of
a competent officer of the requesting state stating that the conviction and the
order of forfeiture are final and that no further appeal lies in respect of either.

Sec. 3. Obtaining Assistance From Foreign States. - The AMLC may make a
request to any foreign state for assistance in (a) tracking down, freezing,
restraining and seizing assets alleged to be proceeds of any unlawful activity;
(b) obtaining information that it needs relating to any covered transaction,
money laundering offense or any other matter directly or indirectly related
thereto; (c) to the extent allowed by the law of the foreign state, applying with
the proper court therein for an order to enter any premises belonging to or in
the possession or control of, any or all of the persons named in said request,
and/or search any or all such persons named therein and/or remove any
document, material or object named in said request: Provided, That the
documents accompanying the request in support of the application have been
duly authenticated in accordance with the applicable law or regulation of the
foreign state; and (d) applying for an order of forfeiture of any monetary
instrument or property in the proper court in the foreign state:Provided, That
the request is accompanied by an authenticated copy of the order of the
Regional Trial Court ordering the forfeiture of said monetary instrument or
property of a convicted offender and an affidavit of the clerk of court stating
that the conviction and the order of forfeiture are final and that no further
appeal lies in respect of either.

Sec. 4. Limitations on Requests for Mutual Assistance. - The AMLC may
refuse to comply with any request for assistance where the action sought by
the request contravenes any provision of the Constitution or the execution of a
request is likely to prejudice the national interest of the Philippines, unless
there is a treaty between the Philippines and the requesting state relating to
the provision of assistance in relation to money laundering offenses.

Sec. 5. Requirements for Requests for Mutual Assistance from Foreign
States. - A request for mutual assistance from a foreign state must (a) confirm
that an investigation or prosecution is being conducted in respect of a money
launderer named therein or that he has been convicted of any money
laundering offense; (b) state the grounds on which any person is being
investigated or prosecuted for money laundering or the details of his
conviction; (c) give sufficient particulars as to the identity of said person; (d)
give particulars sufficient to identify any covered institution believed to have
any information, document, material or object which may be of assistance to
the investigation or prosecution; (e) ask from the covered institution
concerned any information, document, material or object which may be of
assistance to the investigation or prosecution; (f) specify the manner in which
and to whom said information, document, material or object obtained pursuant
to said request, is to be produced; (g) give all the particulars necessary for the
issuance by the court in the requested state of the writs, orders or processes
needed by the requesting state; and (8) contain such other information as may
assist in the execution of the request.

Sec. 6. Authentication of Documents. - For purposes of Section 13 of the
AMLA and Rule 7 of these Rules, a document is authenticated if the same is
signed or certified by a judge, magistrate or equivalent officer in or of, the
requesting state, and authenticated by the oath or affirmation of a witness or
sealed with an official or public seal of a minister, secretary of state, or officer
in or of, the government of the requesting state, or of the person administering
the government or a department of the requesting territory, protectorate or
colony. The certificate of authentication may also be made by a secretary of
the embassy or legation, consul general, consul, vice consul, consular agent
or any officer in the foreign service of the Philippines stationed in the foreign
state in which the record is kept, and authenticated by the seal of his office.
Sec. 7. Extradition. The Philippines shall negotiate for the inclusion of
money laundering offenses as defined under Section 4 of the AMLA among
the extraditable offenses in all future treaties.

RULE 8
AMENDMENTS AND EFFECTIVITY


Section 1. Amendments. These Rules or any portion thereof may be
amended by unanimous vote of the members of the AMLC and approved by
the Congressional Oversight Committee as provided for under Section 19 of
the AMLA.
Sec. 2. Effectivity. These Rules shall take effect after its approval by the
Congressional Oversight Committee and fifteen (15) days after the completion
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.